Health care workers with AIDS: national surveillance update

Article Abstract:

National surveillance data regarding AIDS are an important source for determining the status of occupationally-acquired HIV infection. These data include information on whether or not a patient with AIDS was a health care worker at any time since 1978 as well as a patient's risks for acquiring HIV infection. This study evaluated data regarding health care workers who developed AIDS. Data on each case of AIDS are reported to the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC). Investigations are made for any case involving a health care worker who reports no nonoccupational risk for HIV infection. As of June 30, 1990, 5,425 cases of AIDS involving health care workers had been reported to the CDC. Demographically, these cases resemble all AIDS cases. Initially, 539 cases reported no nonoccupational risks for HIV infection. Of 303 cases carefully reevaluated, nonoccupational risks for HIV infection were found for 237 cases. Overall, no nonoccupational risks for HIV infection are known for 305 of the 5,425 cases (5.6 percent). For all reported AIDS cases, 2.8 percent of cases involve an undetermined risk for the infection. In only 3 cases was HIV infection confirmed as having been caused by an occupational risk. These results show that almost all health care workers who developed AIDS during the study period were infected with HIV by a nonoccupational means. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Risk factors, Demographic aspects, Medical personnel, Work environment, AIDS (Disease), AIDS (Disease) in the workplace

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Failure of Routine HIV-1 Tests in a Case Involving Transmission With Preseroconversion Blood Components During the Infectious Window Period

Article Abstract:

Current HIV tests used in blood banks may not be sensitive enough to detect people who have recently become infected. Researchers document the case of a blood donor who transmitted the virus to two people who received the donated blood products. Genetic tests showed that the virus in the two recipients was identical to the donor's virus. This donor had not seroconverted yet, meaning his immune system had not begun producing antibodies against the virus. Thus, he tested negative for HIV on antibody tests. His viral levels were also very low, so he also tested negative on viral antigen tests.

HIV (Viruses), HIV, Disease transmission, Blood transfusion

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Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Switzerland: evidence for a silent mutation in the C2V3 region distinguishing intravenous drug users from homosexual men

Article Abstract:

HIV subtype B predominates in Switzerland, according to a detailed analysis of viral strains isolated from 158 blood samples. All but seven were subtype B, one was subtype D, four subtype A, and two subtype E. All seven non-B subtypes were found in people infected via heterosexual intercourse.

Switzerland

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